TouchDesigner DaVinci Sync Issue

2026-01-09 17:16 UTC gpt-5-2 Open in ChatGPT ↗

You

I’m recording a video clip out of touch designer and for some reason when i bring the clip into Davinci resolve something strange is happening with the syncronisation. In the image, the bottom media waveform is how it should look but it’s coming in as the top weirdly offset thing?

ChatGPT

This is a known TouchDesigner → DaVinci Resolve gotcha, and the waveform picture you posted is actually a really good clue.

What you’re seeing is not random drift — it’s Resolve re-interpreting the audio timing from the TD movie file.

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What’s actually happening

1. TouchDesigner Movie Out writes non-standard audio timing

TouchDesigner’s Movie File Out TOP (especially when using Kick / real-time recording) often produces:

• Variable frame rate video
• Audio that is correct in duration, but
• Audio timestamps that don’t start at 0 or aren’t evenly spaced

Resolve does not like this.

So when Resolve imports the clip:

• The audio waveform is stretched or offset internally
• The clip length looks right
• But the waveform is shifted, smeared, or misaligned (your top waveform)

That’s why:

• The bottom WAV looks correct
• The audio embedded in the MOV looks “wrong”

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2. Sample rate mismatch (very common)

TouchDesigner often records audio at:

• 48,000 Hz internally but flags it inconsistently in the MOV container.

Resolve expects strict CFR + fixed sample rate.

Result:

• Resolve resamples or offsets the waveform
• You get that “sliding / early-late” look

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How to confirm quickly

In Resolve:

1. Right-click the MOV → Clip Attributes
2. Check:
   • Audio sample rate
   • Frame rate (does it say Variable?)

If it’s variable → that’s the smoking gun.

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The reliable fixes (pick one)

✅ Best / cleanest solution

Do NOT rely on embedded audio from TouchDesigner

Instead:

1. In TouchDesigner:
   • Export video only (MOV)
   • Export audio separately (WAV)
2. Import both into Resolve
3. Sync manually or by timecode

This is how TD is meant to be used for post.

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✅ Transcode before Resolve

Run the MOV through a tool that forces:

• Constant frame rate
• Proper audio timestamps

Example (Shutter Encoder or FFmpeg):

ffmpeg -i input.mov -vsync cfr -r 30 -ar 48000 -ac 2 output_fixed.mov

Then import output_fixed.mov into Resolve.

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⚠️ Resolve workaround (sometimes works)

• Right-click clip → Create New Compound Clip
• Or Change clip speed to 100% This forces Resolve to re-interpret timing, but it’s hit-or-miss.

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TouchDesigner settings to avoid this next time

In Movie File Out TOP:

• Avoid Kick for final renders
• Use:
  • Fixed FPS
  • Record to image sequence + WAV if possible
• Make sure audio CHOP is explicitly 48kHz

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Why this happens (short version)

TouchDesigner is real-time first, not post-production first.
Resolve is post-production strict.

They disagree on:

• Variable frame rate
• Audio timestamps
• Container metadata

Your waveform image is exactly what that disagreement looks like.

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If you want, tell me:

• TD version
• Movie Out settings (FPS, codec)
• Audio CHOP source

and I can give you exact settings that import perfectly into Resolve every time.